Two weeks have passed since the competition ended, and the tournament’s first phase for Nianhua Cup is now more than halfway through.
Judging from the current rankings, the leading teams in each division hold a very significant advantage.
This places the focus of the upcoming two weeks on whether any team can make a comeback against the odds and reshuffle the rankings.
However, it turns out that strength is something that can’t always be defeated by luck alone.
As the fourth week of the competition arrives, the list of eight teams entering the second phase is gradually surfacing.
As expected, the Night Raid and Iron Float guilds secured their spots in the top eight with their impressive performances in their respective divisions. Compared to the other divisions where the top teams were uncontested, the team Seven Silver Coins from Zone C, despite being the first, garnered much more attention.
After the initial division announcements, the online betting results overwhelmingly favored the Old Dream Times guild. However, as the final results emerged, the guild with the highest expectations found itself placed quite low in the rankings. Not only did they fail to reach the top two for advancement but they couldn’t even break into the top four overall.
At this point, discussions regarding Seven Silver Coins prompted netizens to start questioning the authenticity of the betting data.
Various threads began emerging on forums, discussing the falsified betting data of Old Dream Times. Gradually, this discussion spread and started affecting the gaming experience of members within the guild.
This large guild, which should have been experiencing growth, began witnessing widespread resignations. In just a few days after the end of the first phase of the competition, the guild experienced an unprecedented negative growth rate in its membership count.
In stark contrast, Seven Silver Coins naturally thrived.
Island Forest and What Pen Carries Fragrance guilds were inundated with applications and private messages, almost dominating their daily lives. Upon logging in each day, they were completely consumed with managing and organizing their guild members.
For the first time since its establishment, the Leisure Retirement Guild, which had never been fully occupied, experienced an explosion in membership, forcing the guild to consider expansion as a priority on their agenda.
Around this time, the previously superficial alliance with the Crusaders Guild finally came into play.
“What? Seven Silver Coins is actually requesting guild resources from us?”
As Pojun Baba monitored the progress of the Nianhua Cup during this time, already frustrated by Seven Silver Coins’ success, he was taken aback by this news. Almost spitting out blood on the spot, he exclaimed, “Are we close to them? We’ve kept our distance for so long, and suddenly they have the audacity to ask for help!”
“It was the Vice President of Seven Silver Coins who initially contacted me. I was reluctant at first, but then…” The Crusaders guild administrator appeared anxious and swallowed nervously before continuing, “Then God Yu personally came to see me, asking me to check with you before giving him a response. God Yu mentioned that he has been in the Crusaders for so many years, contributing in his own way. He said, considering his modest request, you would agree.”
“What?!” Suppressing the urge to curse, Pojun Baba tried to control himself, “And how much is his ‘modesty’ worth in guild funds?”
The Crusaders’ administrator hesitated for a moment, then used three fingers to signify the amount.
“300,000?” Pojun Baba raised an eyebrow, “Is Seven Silver Coins planning to expand to the size of a medium-sized guild?”
“Not exactly…” The Crusaders’ administrator lowered his voice as he spoke, “The God Yu mentioned 3 million.”
“Clang!” Pojun Baba fell off his chair, exclaiming, “They want to leap straight to a large guild and want us to fund it all? Why doesn’t he just rob someone!?”
The Crusaders’ administrator struggled to respond, “God Yu mentioned that if you ask why he doesn’t rob someone, let me tell you, he actually intended to do so. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have come to ask for help from the Crusaders.”
Pojun Baba’s mouth twitched several times, and he barely restrained the profanity on his lips.
For a guild as wealthy as the Crusaders, even 3 million in guild resources would not be a significant amount, let alone 30 million. But Pojun Baba didn’t want to let Seven Silver Coins take advantage of them!
However, the current situation seemed beyond his control. Previously, when Seven Silver Coins had no reputation, the Crusaders had suffered losses at their hands. Now, with a continuous influx of returning players, Pojun Baba was skeptical. If he persisted in refusing, Yu Weize might have prepared some trick or plot, just waiting for him to resist.
Amidst an uncomfortably long silence, the Crusaders’ administrator cautiously probed, “Guild Leader?”
“Give it! Give it to them! Based on Yu Weize’s long-term contributions, whatever amount he asks for!” Pojun Baba’s every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth.
God knows how hard it was for him to swallow this pride. Seeing the Crusaders’ administrator still standing there motionless, he gritted his teeth and asked, “What else does Yu Weize want?”
“Oh, yes, there is something else, but it’s unrelated to God Yu,” the Crusaders’ administrator reminded him, “Guild Leader, did you forget about the holographic media interview scheduled for this afternoon? It seems it’s almost time. Should we…”
Pojun Baba: “…”
Blame that Yu Weize, got annoyed by it, almost forgot about the main business.
Pojun Baba immediately composed himself and had someone bring the holographic reporters waiting in the guild territory to the conference hall.
Though it’s still the time of Nianhua Cup, professional powerhouse guilds like the Crusaders need to maintain their presence occasionally to boost public attention.
This interview activity was jointly organized by the holographic media and targeted not only the Crusaders but several other guilds. The main purpose was to capitalize on the ongoing Nianhua Cup frenzy and build momentum for the next Century Cup.
As the guild leader of the Crusaders, Pojun Baba was naturally adept at handling such media interviews.
Throughout the interview, he calmly addressed all the questions, being official and diplomatic, providing ample material for the journalists’ reports.
This atmosphere gradually made Pojun Baba forget his previous unpleasantness.
However, as the interview approached its end, the journalist flipped through their notebook and threw out the final question: “As of now, the first phase of Nianhua Cup has officially ended. Based on current performance, there’s been a growing voice among netizens supporting Seven Silver Coins’ entry into the Century Cup. As the former guild where Yu Weize served, Chairman Pojun, do you have any unique thoughts regarding their potential entry into the Century Cup?”
Pojun Baba: “…”
Yu Weize, Yu Weize, Yu Weize Why is it Yu Weize everywhere!
How could this thing be so persistent!?
Pojun Baba cursed hundreds of times in his mind, but on his face, he managed to squeeze out a smile, “Looking forward to meeting them at the Century Cup.”
“Looking forward to meeting them at the Century Cup…”
As these words passed through Jiang Shi’s ears while he was lounging on his sofa at home, the holographic media broadcasted the interview video on the TV.
Fresh from the shower, a slightly damp towel hung around his neck, silently absorbing the dripping water from his hair.
“Honestly, your former guild leader was quite flexible from a certain perspective. Despite wanting to tear you apart, he managed to maintain this smile. No wonder he could climb up to this position; quite impressive,” Jiang Shi remarked, adjusting the projection angle in mid-air so that the person on the video call could see the TV screen clearly.
“Yeah, his only ‘merit’ is knowing when to advance and when to retreat. Today, he smartly transferred the guild resources, so I quite like him,” Han Yuze replied while keeping his gaze fixed on Jiang Shi. He adjusted the angle himself, facing Jiang Shi, with a cheerful expression. “But I guess he can keep up this facade for now. If we meet face-to-face after Nianhua Cup, do you think he’ll still be able to smile?”
“If they can’t laugh, then they can cry. I don’t care about them.” Jiang Shi clicked the remote control to move on to the next interview. As he watched the Rattlesnake Guild leader, he shook his head and muttered, “I’m more concerned about something else.”
“Actually, I’m quite curious about this too,” Han Yuze quickly understood.
Both of them fell silent for a moment before their eyes met through the video call, and they sighed simultaneously.
Given the current situation, although they weren’t contestants, the presidents and vice-presidents of various guilds often acted as spokespeople during the media interview phase.
In that case, if it were their Seven Silver Coins’ turn in the future…
After thinking for a long time, Jiang Shi came to a conclusion, “As long as Whatcha Ink doesn’t show up, and the lovey-dovey president plays his customer service role, it might work, don’t you think?”
It was rare for Han Yuze to hear such an uncertain tone from Jiang Shi, he couldn’t help but laugh, “Okay.”
Jiang Shi glanced at him.
Han Yuze reined in his smile, earnestly rephrased his answer, “I mean it.”
Jiang Shi imagined the scenario, thinking that even if that day did come, the media would be the ones collapsing, not him. Instantly, he felt more relaxed.
Right at that moment, the interview footage switched again.
This time, it was Blood Rose’s interview.
Unlike other guilds, perhaps due to recent idleness or other reasons, as the top-tier healing expert, Return to Spring’s Skillful Hands personally participated in the interview.
When asked the same question other guilds received, Return to Spring’s Skillful Hands seemed well-prepared and smiled slightly at the camera, “Seven Silver Coins? Blood Rose is ready to welcome their arrival.”
This statement seemed like a stone causing a thousand ripples; the entire interview scene erupted.
From any angle, Return to Spring’s Skillful Hands’ response essentially treated Seven Silver Coins’ victory in the Annual Cup as an established fact!
Even Han Yuze hadn’t expected this old buddy to be so direct. He was momentarily stunned and chuckled, “Is this considered declaring war on us?”
Jiang Shi’s gaze remained on the interview screen, a hint of battle intent shimmering in his eyes, “Then we’ll answer the call.”